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A Statement on the Importance of the Muslim Nation`s Unity and the Need to Discard Disputes
Author : The General Iftaa` Department
Date Added : 17-08-2015

A Statement on the Importance of Muslim Nation's Unity and the Need to Discard Disputes  

 

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of The Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.

 

Based on Allah`s words (What means): "Verily, this brotherhood of yours is a single brotherhood, and I am your Lord and Cherisher: therefore serve Me (and no other)." [Al-Anbia`/92], in adherence to His injunction (What means): "And hold fast, all together, by the rope which God (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves;" [Al-Imraan/103], as well the decisive heavenly guidance (What means): "And obey God and His Apostle; and fall into no disputes, lest ye lose heart and your power depart; and be patient and persevering: For God is with those who patiently persevere." [Al-Anfaal/46].

 

Out of the religious, historic, and human responsibility, which makes it imperative upon Muslims to be candid and advise one another through calling for maintaining the nation`s unity, man`s dignity, and the security of the Muslim countries, the General Iftaa` Department in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan-which is closely watching the dangers threatening our nation, the voices calling for revenge, the statements released through mass media inciting to trial, fanaticism and hatred-turns to our brothers in Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen and other Muslim countries to stress the following:

 

First: Today, the Muslim nation has arrived at a situation, which contradicts with the teachings of Islam as regards belief, adherence to observing obligatory acts of worship, and the intentions of Sharia that call for unity and forbid bloodshed. This situation also contradicts with the historic models of our bright Islamic experience, which rested on values of brotherhood, advice and maintaining man`s dignity. Allah, The Almighty, Said (What means): "Invite (all) to the Way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious: for thy Lord knoweth best, who have strayed from His Path, and who receive guidance" [An-Nahil/125].

 

Second: The nation`s unity, which was a reality over centuries as well as a dream for its sons, is experiencing a severe trial and repeated attempts to undermine it; therefore, it is the duty of its sons; especially the wise to be aware of this grave danger and stand up to it, in response to the call for brotherhood (What means): "The Believers are but a single Brotherhood" [Al-Hujuraat/10].

 

Third: The call for firmly establishing the nation`s unity dictates ending various political conflicts and Fatwas, which call for shedding blood, labeling Muslims as disbelievers (Takfeer), and undermining the peace and security of societies.

 

Fourth: We call on the scholars as well as the thinkers of the Muslim nation to favor the nation`s interest, maintain its solidarity and resort to reason in order to stop the killing of Muslims and to render the plots of those trying to undermine the internal peace and security of our societies a failure.

 

Fifth: We call on our Muslim nation to ignore voices that call for accusing Muslims with disbelief and treason, and to abide by the teachings of our true religion, which promotes the values of brotherhood, solidarity, cooperation and reconciliation.

 

We remind our nation with the themes of the Amman Message, which was launched by His Majesty King Abdullah the 2nd. It calls for adherence to the way of Islam in inviting people to Allah through wisdom, beautiful preaching, mercy and good deeds. Moreover, Islam forbids killing people and calls for discarding all forms of violence and extremism and at the same time expressing the importance human's dignity and sanctity which is one of Sharia objectives, as Allah, The Most Exalted Said (What means): We have honoured the sons of Adam." [Al-Israa'/70].

 

Sixth: In order for our nation to free itself from the trial that it is experiencing, its scholars and rulers are required to exert every effort possible to stop all forms of conflict, and resort to wisdom through constructive dialogue and giving priority to the nation`s interest over that of the individual`s. This in order for it to regain trust in itself, enhance the common aspects and delay disputes, as stipulated in the Sharia maxim: warding off harm takes precedence over making benefit, since the Prophet (PBUH) said: "

Whoever helps to kill a believer, even with half a world, he will meet Allah (PBUH) with (the words) written between his eyes, 'He has no hope of the mercy of Allah (PBUH).” [Ibn Majah].

 

We pray that Allah unites all Muslims, spares their lives, and bestows peace and security upon Jordan and the rest of the Muslim countries.

The General Iftaa` Department

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

Should a person feel pleased, or have a virtuous vision after offering Istikhara (guidance prayer) in order to do what he/she had offered it for?

The result of the Istikhaarah is not necessarily that a person sees something (in his dream), or feels pleased, but the most important result of the Istikhaarah is whether a person is enabled to do a given matter or not.

Is it permissible to offer an Udhiyah on behalf of the deceased?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Offering a sacrifice (Udhiyah) on behalf of the deceased is permissible. This is the position of the Hanbalis [Kashshaf al-Qina’ by al-Bahuti (Vol.6/P.428)], and it was held by al-Abbadi of the Shafi’is [Bidayat al-Muhtaj by Ibn Qadi Shuhbah (Vol.4/P.358)]; it is also narrated from some Maliki and Hanafi scholars.
 
Abu Dawud included a chapter in his Sunan titled "Chapter: Offering the Sacrifice on Behalf of the Deceased," in which he narrated from Hanash, who said: "I saw Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) sacrificing two rams. I asked him, 'What is this?' He replied, 'The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) enjoined me to sacrifice on his behalf, so I am sacrificing on his behalf.'"
 
Abu Dawud also narrated from Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "O Allah, this is from You and for You, on behalf of Muhammad and his Ummah; in the name of Allah, and Allah is the Greatest," then he slaughtered it. It is well known that among the Ummah of Muhammad (peace be upon him) are those who have passed away, yet he (peace be upon him) dedicated it to his entire Ummah.
 
Furthermore, multiple Sharia texts have consistently indicated that the rewards of righteous deeds reach the deceased. This includes the permissibility of fasting on behalf of the deceased if they died owing fasts, as well as the permissibility of performing Hajj on their behalf, both of which are established in authentic Hadiths. Since the rewards for fasting—a physical act of worship—and Hajj—a physical and financial act of worship—reach the deceased, then the sacrifice (Udhiyah) is even more likely to reach them.
 
Moreover, the scholars have reached a consensus (Ijma') that the rewards of charities reach the deceased, and the Udhiyah is a form of charity and falls under its general category. Based on all of this, we hold the view that offering a sacrifice on behalf of the deceased is permissible. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling on bypassing a nearby mosque for a distant one?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
If a distant mosque has a larger congregation (Jama‘ah) while the congregation in the nearby mosque is smaller, and the congregation in the nearby mosque is not adversely affected by the worshiper's absence, then it is better for him to pray in the distant mosque with the larger congregation. However, if the congregation in the nearby mosque would be affected by his absence—such as if he is its Imam, or if his presence encourages others to attend—then praying in the nearby mosque is better. This ensures that the congregation is established in two different locations within the community. This is based on the saying of the Prophet ﷺ: 'A man's prayer offered with another man is purer than his prayer which he offers alone, and his prayer with two men is purer than his prayer with one and if they are more (in number), it is more beloved to Allah, the Mighty the Majestic' (Narrated by Ahmad, Abu Dawood, and An-Nasa'i). And Allah the Exalted knows best.

What is the Sharia basis of the Udhiyah?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
The Sharia basis of the Udhiyah (sacrificial offering) is firmly established through the Quran, the Sunnah, and the Consensus (Ijma') of the Muslims:
1. Evidence from the Holy Quran
Allah the Exalted says {what means}: "And the camels and cattle We have appointed for you as among the symbols of Allah; for you therein is good." [Al-Hajj/36]. He also says {what means}: "So pray to your Lord and sacrifice [to Him alone]" [Al-Kawthar/2]. According to the most well-known scholarly interpretations of this verse, "prayer" refers to the Eid prayer, and "sacrifice" refers to the slaughtering of the Udhiyah.
2. Evidence from the Sunnah
Al-Bara' bin 'Azib (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: "The first thing we start with on this day of ours is to pray, then we return and sacrifice. Whoever does that has followed our Sunnah, and whoever slaughters before [the prayer], it is merely meat he has provided for his family; it is not part of the ritual sacrifice in any way" [Reported by Bukhari & Muslim].
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: "The Prophet ﷺ sacrificed two white rams with horns. He slaughtered them with his own hand, mentioned the name of Allah (Tasmiyah), and said the Takbir" [Reported by Bukhari & Muslim].
3. Evidence from Scholarly Consensus (Ijma')
The Muslims have reached a unanimous consensus on the Sharia basis of the Udhiyah, and no one among the scholars has disagreed with this. [Al-Sherbini, Mughni al-Muhtaj, Vol.6/P.122].And Allah the Exalted knows best.